Not many people would consider riding an ostrich as a qualification to be elected to a congressional seat, but ostrich-riding is just one of the bizarre facts a candidate has shared in his attempt to win votes.

Jeff Barth, bidding to be the Democratic candidate for South Dakota, has released a video the US media dubbed "the most bizarre campaign ad of the year."

Barth, who is currently a county commissioner, will face rival Matt Varilek in a primary next month to choose the Democratic party's candidate for November's election.

He told a South Dakota political blog ArgusLeader.com the ad was shot on May 15 in a Sioux Falls park, and volunteers had set up the props along the way.

But the ad had to be filmed in several takes. "I had originally tried to memorise the whole thing," Barth said. "Then when we were unable to shoot it the first time, I lost some of my edge on that." Some of the effects were added later, including the horse's swishing tail.

The Argus Leader noted that Barth's campaign has so far failed to attract the big bucks, while Varilek has already built a political profile, and Republican incumbent for South Dakota Kristi Noem has more than $1 million in her war chest. "Let's face it, that's my best chance," Barth said. "I can't compete dollar for dollar with a candidate that's tapped into a United States senator's fundraising machine. I have to try to use my imagination.”